Otis Moss Jr. facts for kids

Otis Moss Jr. is an important American leader, a pastor, a speaker, and an activist. He was born on February 26, 1935. He is famous for his work in the Civil Rights Movement. This was a time when people fought for equal rights for all, especially for African Americans.

Otis Moss Jr. was also a close friend of both Martin Luther King Jr. and his father, Martin Luther King Sr.. His son, Otis Moss III, is also a pastor today at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

Growing Up and Learning

Otis Moss Jr. grew up in LaGrange, Georgia. He was the fourth of five children in his family. When he was 16, he became an orphan.

He went to Morehouse College and earned his first degree in 1956. Later, he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1959. At Morehouse, he learned from Benjamin Mays, who also guided Martin Luther King Jr.

While at college, Otis Moss Jr. joined the Atlanta Student Movement. He helped lead "sit-ins" and other peaceful protests. These actions were important ways to fight against segregation, which was the unfair separation of people based on their race.

He continued his studies and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1990. During this time, he became friends with Jeremiah Wright, who was a pastor in Chicago.

His Work and Ministry

Otis Moss Jr. began his work as a pastor in 1954 at Mount Olive Baptist Church in LaGrange. He led that church until 1961. For some years, he also served as a pastor at Providence Baptist Church in Atlanta at the same time.

From 1961 to 1975, he was the pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Lockland, Ohio. During these years, he became a regional director for Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This group worked to end unfair treatment and segregation.

He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, during a very important civil rights march. He and King became close friends. King even performed the wedding ceremony for Otis Moss Jr. and his wife.

In 1971, he spent a year co-pastoring Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta with Martin Luther King Sr..

After leaving Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1975, he became the pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland. This was the largest Black church in Ohio at the time. He led this church for 33 years, retiring in 2008.

During his time there, he continued to be a popular speaker. He was also an important voice in movements for social justice. He advised President Jimmy Carter and became friends with other famous people like Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Jesse Jackson.

In 1997, Otis Moss Jr. worked with University Hospitals to create the Otis Moss Jr. Medical Center. This center helps people get important health care. He was also recognized as one of America's most influential Black preachers by Ebony Magazine many times.

Awards and Recognitions

Otis Moss Jr. has received many awards for his work and leadership. Some of these include:

• The Candle in Religion Award from Morehouse College.
• The Role Model of the Year Award from the National Institute for Responsible Fatherhood and Family Development.
• A Leadership Award from the American Jewish Committee.
• The Human Relations Award from Bethune-Cookman University.
• A Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleveland Clinic.

Sharing His Message

Otis Moss Jr. has always been a highly requested speaker. He has given talks at many colleges and churches around the world. He has spoken at the Oxford Roundtable at Oxford University and at Yale University. He also spoke at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. His travels for speaking have taken him to places like Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, Israel, and South Africa.

His Family Life

Otis Moss Jr. has been married to his wife, Edwina, for more than fifty years. They have three children: Kevin, Daphne (who has passed away), and Otis III.